We Now Have a National Public Health Insurance Option?

Big news: The House just passed health care reform, including a national public health insurance option!1This is a major victory, and we have House progressives to thank for it "including Representative Diane Watson.

When the media and conservatives declared the public option dead, House progressives made clear that it was non-negotiable. They pushed hard to lower health care costs for middle class families. And they made sure that funding for health care reform will come from those who can really afford it "not from a tax on all of our health care plans.2

Can you sign a thank-you card to Rep. Watson today? Click the link below to sign the card:

The Senate version of health care reform is likely to allow states to "opt-out" of the public option or, worse, might end up containing a "trigger" provision designed to kill the public option through endless delay.3 It`ll likely cover millions fewer people and do less to make health care affordable.4

So when it comes time for the House and Senate bills to be merged, we need Rep. Watson and other progressives to insist on the key provisions from the House bill "including a national public option that`s available on day one.

The House bill is far from perfect "with a compromise version of the public option and an ugly anti-choice amendment. But the bill expands coverage to 96% of Americans, increases choice with a public option available everywhere, ends discrimination due to pre-existing conditions or gender, and helps reduce the deficit.5 The fact that the bill is this strong is due largely to progressive lawmakers "and we`ll work with them to make sure the final bill is as strong as possible.

So let`s show our appreciation "and encourage Rep. Watson to hold the line in the weeks ahead. Please click here to sign our thank-you card.

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